Space Monkey Comics Log 08312020 - Phoenix, Druid, The Maxx and More

Chadwick Boseman, 1976-2020. Rest in Power.

I'd like to say more, but I'm currently at a loss. The news still feels fresh and I haven't fully processed the gravity of his death. I'll likely write more on him at some point, but I didn't want his passing to go unacknowledged in the meantime.

It’s been a busy week with a bunch of new listings added to the store, and a bunch of outgoing sales, too, I'm thrilled to say. Thank you to those who have purchased from me, and those who are along for the ride, silly posts and all.

"I stand between human and supernature, with fire at my hand and death in my smile." With that line, we're introduced to a markedly different take on Dr. Anthony Druid, one of Marvel's pre-Silver Age characters. In 1994, newcomers Warren Ellis and Leonardo Manco wowed audiences with Hellstorm: Prince of Lies, and were subsequently given the keys to take Dr. Druid out for a spin, giving the former Avenger a fresh, darker coat of paint in the process. The result was Druid, and we've got the complete four-issue mini-series up for grabs.

If you're old enough to remember MTV's Liquid Television, the independent animation showcase that introduced the world to Beavis & Butthead and Aeon Flux, you may also remember their serialization of The Maxx, which was actually adapted from the comic series by Sam Keith. Get in on some of his early issues, now posted to the store.

Readers of all age groups know the sad fate of Jean Grey, the X-Man formerly known as Marvel Girl who became the all-powerful Phoenix. She struggled to contain the corrupting influence of her godlike powers before taking her own life in Uncanny X-Men #137 (and before her death was mostly retconned, but we won't speak of that here). There was actually an alternate version of UXM #137 that played out mostly the same but with a markedly different outcome. You can read it in the one-shot Phoenix: The Untold Story, now available in the store. This special includes interviews with the the creative team and editor as they discuss why things took the turn that it ultimately did.

Above and beyond those, we added a few issues of the legendary Sergio Aragone’s Groo the Wanderer, Dale Keown’s The Pitt, 1992’s Cage series, which saw Luke Cage relocating to Chicago, the stunning Stray Toasters by Bill Sienkiewicz (artist for New Mutants, Moon Knight), and several miscellaneous Vampirella comics which we're selling off as a lot, among other goodies, like a few of the Seven Soldiers mini-series by Grant Morrison and some amazing artists.

I've got some cool new listings that will be going up through the rest of the week, but till then, browse the store and see what catches your eye!

Space Monkey Comics Log 08212020: For the Love of Kirby, Pre-Harley Suicide Squad, and More

In 1970, Jack "The King" Kirby left Marvel Comics, where he helped invent much of the Marvel universe we know today, and signed a three-year contract with their competitor, DC Comics. And though the previous decade saw him co-create some of pop culture's most enduring characters, his output at DC -- including works like the Fourth World Saga, Kamandi the Last Boy on Earth, and O.M.A.C. -- made it clear that Kirby still had tons of creative energy to spare.

Among his notable creations during this time was Jason Blood, a knight in Camelot who found himself permanently bonded to the demon, Etrigan by Merlin (yes, that Merlin). Now immortal, Blood operated as a demonologist in modern day Gotham City, turning into Etrigan when circumstances called for his special touch. Such a simple premise -- on the surface not unlike Jekyll & Hyde or the Hulk -- but imbued with so much unique potential, what with the supernatural angle and its super heroic setting. It's no wonder Etrigan the Demon is still around, and can today be seen alongside some of DC's other occult-themed characters like Zatanna and John Constantine in Justice League Dark.

So with that said, I'm happy to say that several issues of Kirby's original all-too-brief run on The Demon have been added to the Space Monkey Comics store. I would regularly display these when I was out doing cons and expos, but they never made it to the online store for some reason. These books are in great condition considering their age.

(I've got such a huge soft spot in my heart for Kirby, particularly his work in the early to mid 1970s, and The Demon is no exception.)

Kirby's art style has often been described as cinematic, with its ability to feel bigger than the page itself. Look no further than his earlier epic work on Fantastic Four (did someone say Galactus?) and Thor for examples. This boldness only grew as his style continued to evolve in the early '70s. And though it's only in recent years that many of his co-creations have made it to the big screen, the power of his influence has been felt in comics for decades.

Speaking of cinema -- over 30 years before Will Smith and Margot Robbie would gear up for the Suicide Squad film, and more than a decade before the character of Harley Quinn even debuted, the Suicide Squad made a huge splash in their ongoing comic series which ran from 1987-1992. Though names familiar to today's readers/viewers like Amanda Waller and Deadshot were still part of the original roster, the series also featured the likes of then (and still) relative unknowns like Bronze Tiger and Nightshade. Writer John Ostrander and artist Luke McDonnell both became synonymous with the title during its 65-issues (plus an annual and a special). That's a pretty good run for a team of b-list villains.

We've just added several issues of the Ostrander/McDonnell run on Suicide Squad to the store. Hopefully you can fill in some gaps in your collection.

Also new to the store:

The Invaders (another title I have a soft spot for)

Captain Marvel (not Carol Danvers, but rather the Kree military captain Mar-Vell), making his return during Marvel's Secret Invasion event

Ultimate Nightmare and Ultimate Extinction, two parts of a trilogy that introduced the Ultimate Universe's version of Silver Surfer and Gah-Lak-Tus (Galactus... there's that name, again!)

Plus assorted odds and ends, which is a nice way of plastering over the fact that I can't remember what else I added this week. Check out the Space Monkey Comics store yourself to see if anything catches your eye!

Till next time!

Space Monkey Comics Log 08152020: Welcome!

Hey, will you look at that… we’ve got a blog!

We figured there’s no better way to get the word out about the shenanigans at Space Monkey HQ! Right here is where we’ll talk about what we’re up to, including showcasing new items we’ve added to our online store, and other items that we're selling that we thing deserve some special attention. Now and then, we may also hear from Owner and resident Monkey Whisperer Richard (me) as he muses on a character, comic book run or other comics-related happenings, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll recount some of Space Monkey Juan’s adventures, including that time he faced off against a shape-changing alien (he thought it was me but the ruse was discovered when my doppelganger asked for pineapple on his pizza… Juan gets me).

This week saw us add of one of our favorite mini-series ever to the online store, WE3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. It’s like one of those heartwarming Disney classics about cuddly animals on the run from cruel humans, but with cyborg assassins and hyper-violent, manga-influenced art. It's definitely not for the kiddies, but man, Quitely put out some beautiful work here.

We also managed to add almost the entire 12-issue run of Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee’s Inhumans from 1998-1999. We actually had the entire run up there but one of those issues got snatched up by a savvy buyer before we could finish this post. This award winning series redefined the characters for the new millennium while staying true to what we loved about Marvel’s own creepy and kooky royal family.

If you’re still eager for more, you’ll also find original X-Man Bobby Drake’s first solo outing in the four-issue Iceman mini-series, as well as full runs of both Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis (DC’s big on their crises, huh?)

So click on through to check out those and other books! Or head directly to our store by clicking HERE. We try to add new items regularly, and will be posting updates here semi-regularly, as time permits.